Heritage Assessment Land South of Holt Road Wrexham

HERITAGE ASSESSMENT

LAND SOUTH OF HOLT ROAD WREXHAM

AUGUST 2018

Planning Authority: Wrexham County Borough Council

Site centred at: SJ 3619 5151

Author: Emily Mercer BA MSc MCIfA

Approved by: Simon Mortimer MA(Oxon) MCIfA

Report Status: FINAL

No part of this report is to be copied in any way AUGUST 2018 without prior written consent.

Every effort is made to provide detailed and accurate information, however, CgMs Limited cannot be held responsible for errors or inaccuracies within this report. CgMs Ref:

Contents Executive Summary 1.0 Introduction and Scope of Study 2.0 Planning Background and Development Plan Framework 3.0 Geology, Topography and Site Conditions 4.0 Archaeological and Historical Background, including Assessment of Significance 5.0 The Proposed Development and Impact on Heritage Assets 6.0 Conclusions

Sources Consulted

Appendix 1: Designated and Non-designated Assets Data Plots Appendix 2: Gazetteer of Designated and Non-designated Archaeological Assets

List of Illustrations

Figure 1 Site location Figure 2 1838 Wrexham Tithe Map Figure 3 1879 Ordnance Survey Map Figure 4 1900 Ordnance Survey Map Figure 5 1914 Ordnance Survey Map Figure 6 1968 Ordnance Survey Map Figure 7 1990-2 Ordnance Survey Map

List of Plates

Plate 1 West facing view from the north perimeter of the study site along Holt Road (A534) Plate 2 South facing view along the west side of the study site, towards Bryn Estyn Court in the distance Plate 3 West facing view across the north of the study site Plate 4 South-west facing view from the east side of the study site Plate 5 South facing view from the west side of Bryn Estyn Court Plate 6 East facing view across the pasture field to the south of the roundabout on the A534 Plate 7 East facing view along Bryn Estyn Road. The revetting wall (82626) can be seen on the left side

Plate 8 West facing view of Bryn Estyn Court from the eastern perimeter of the study site Plate 9 South-west facing view towards the small woodland area surrounding the marl pit (82623) Plate 10 View of the marl pit (82623) Plate 11 View eastwards along the line of trees remaining of a relict field boundary on the east side of the study site Plate 12 View of Tyn-twll Farm (55135) from the north-west corner of the study site

Executive Summary

This Heritage Assessment considers 28.52ha of land proposed for residential development at land off Holt Road, Wrexham.

In accordance with government policy (PPW 9), the assessment draws together the available archaeological, historic, topographic and land-use information in order to clarify the heritage significance and archaeological potential of the study site.

The assessment has established that there are no designated archaeological assets on the study site. The only designated assets within the surrounding 1km study area there are five Grade II Listed Buildings, all of which are screened from the study site by intervening topography, vegetation and buildings. Consequently, there will be no impact on the designated assets or their settings and significance.

The assessment has also established that there is one non-designated archaeological asset recorded in the HER within the study site boundary and one located on the north-west boundary, both dating to the Post-Medieval and Modern periods. These include a marl pit on the west side of the study site and a military aircraft crash site that may straddle the boundary of the study site. The crash site, under the Protection of Military Remains Act (PMRA) of 1986, cannot be excavated or remains removed without a license from the Central Casualty Section, a part of the Royal Air Force Personnel Management Agency (PMA). However, if human remains are suspected then it would be classed as a War Grave and an exclusion zone would be required in any proposed development. Any evidence discovered relating to these non- designated archaeological assets would be considered to be of local/regional interest. However, both assets lie within areas that are not proposed for development according to the Illustrative Concept Layout (Randall Thorpe drawing ref 661B-04 A) and, therefore, will not be impacted by the development.

This assessment has also considered the potential for as-yet to be discovered archaeological assets within the site. It concludes that, on the basis of the archaeological evidence from the search area, the site has a low/negligible potential for significant remains of all periods. The assessment has therefore shown that there are no heritage or archaeological constraints to the deliverability of the study site.

In light of the above, it is recommended that an initial geophysical survey is undertaken to confirm the presence/absence of remains associated with the crash site and any other potential features of archaeological interest. This would inform the need for a scope of further archaeological work; this programme of iterative work can be secured by an appropriately worded planning condition.

1.0 INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE OF STUDY

1.1 This Heritage Assessment of land south of Holt Road, Wrexham has been researched and prepared by CgMs Heritage on behalf of Barratt Homes and Bloor Homes North West.

1.2 The site, also referred to as the study site, comprises approximately 28.52ha of land proposed for residential development, centred at National Grid Reference SJ 3619 5151 (Figure 1). The site is located to the north-east of the town of Wrexham between the A534 Holt Road to the north and Bryn Estyn Road to the south. Modern residential development bounds the majority of the west side of the study site, with Tyn-twll Farm on the north-west side. To the east the study site is bound by Hanson Concrete works and fields.

1.3 This assessment has been prepared in compliance with Planning Policy Wales ((PPW) edition 9) and the Technical Advice Note (TAN) 24, to identify and provide a description of the significance of heritage assets on the site and the likely effects of development on that significance.

1.4 The assessment incorporates published and unpublished material, and charts historic land-use through a map regression exercise. A site inspection was undertaken in October 2017.

1.5 As a result, the assessment enables relevant parties to assess the significance of heritage assets on and close to the site and to consider the potential for hitherto undiscovered archaeological assets, thus enabling potential impacts on assets to be identified along with the need for any design, civil engineering or archaeological solutions.

2.0 PLANNING BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN FRAMEWORK

2.1 Statutory Framework

i) Ancient Monuments & Archaeological Areas Act 1979

The Ancient Monuments & Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (as amended) protects the fabric of Scheduled Monuments, but does not afford statutory protection to their settings. Relevant policies relating to the protection of the setting of scheduled monuments are contained within national and local development plan policy.

ii) Protection of Military Remains Act (PRMA) 1986

All crashed British aircraft in the UK or its coastal waters are deemed Crown property, all Luftwaffe crash sites are considered captured property surrendered to the Crown, and for US aircraft the MoD acts as the representative of the US Government. Under the PRMA anyone wishing to excavate or recover a military aircraft is first required to apply for a licence from the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC). The aim is to protect potential excavators from the risks of possible surviving live ordnance, as well as the moral obligation to the families of the dead servicemen not able to be recovered at the time of the crash to protect their relatives’ remain from disturbance.

iii) Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015

This Act places duties on public bodies requiring them to act in accordance with the ‘sustainable development principle’. The Act also establishes well-being goals which include achieving ‘a Wales of vibrant culture and Welsh language’, described as ‘a society that promotes and protects culture, heritage and the Welsh language’. The Act lays down the principle that a properly protected, conserved and enhanced historic environment can improve the quality of life and well-being for everyone.

iv) Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2016

The Historic Environment (Wales) Act was given Royal Assent in March 2016. This Act provides the legislative framework for managing the historic environment in Wales. Accompanying the Act will be new policy and guidance in the form of a Technical Advice Note (TAN) specific to the Historic Environment (see below), and changes to Planning Policy Wales (PPW) Chapter 6 – Conserving the Historic Environment. While the changes to PPW have been made, the new TAN 24 and other guidance is still the subject of consultation.

2.2 Planning Policy Wales

2.2.1 The Welsh Government has published Planning Policy Wales (PPW), currently updated to Version 9 from November 2016 (PPW9). This sets out the land use planning policies

of the Welsh Government. It is supplemented by a series of Technical Advice Notes (TANs). Procedural advice is given in circulars and policy clarification letters.

2.2.2 Chapter 6 of PPW9, entitled ‘Conserving the Historic Environment’, provides policy for planning authorities, property owners, developers and others on the conservation and investigation of heritage assets. Overall, the objectives of Chapter 6 in relation to archaeology can be summarised as seeking to:

• conserve and enhance the historic environment, which is a finite and non- renewable resource and a vital and integral part of the historical and cultural identity of Wales;

• recognise its contribution to economic vitality and culture, civic pride, local distinctiveness and the quality of Welsh life, and its importance as a resource to be maintained for future generations;

• base decisions on an understanding of the significance of Wales’ historic assets;

• contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the past by making an appropriate record when parts of a historic asset are affected by a proposed change, and ensuring that this record or the results of any investigation are securely archived and made publicly available; and specifically to

• conserve archaeological remains, both for their own sake and for their role in education, leisure and the economy.

2.2.3 Chapter 6 of PPW9 describes the historic environment as being made up of individual historic features, archaeological sites, historic buildings and historic parks, gardens, townscapes and landscapes, collectively known as historic assets.

2.2.4 The historic environment is defined, in policy terms, in TAN 24 (at para. 1.7) as:

“All aspects of the environment resulting from the interaction between people and places through time, including all surviving physical remains of past human activity, whether visible, buried or submerged, and deliberately planted or managed.”

2.2.5 Technical Advice Note (TAN) 24 was issued in May 2017. This TAN replaces Welsh Office Circulars 60/96, 61/96 and 1/98, which have now been cancelled. The purpose of TAN 24 is to provide guidance on how the planning system considers the historic environment during development plan preparation and decision making on planning and Listed Building (LBC) applications. TAN 24 provides specific guidance on how the following aspects of the historic environment should be considered:

• World Heritage Sites

• Scheduled Monuments

• Archaeological Remains

• Listed Buildings

• Conservation Areas

• Historic Parks and Gardens

• Historic Landscapes

• Historic Assets of Special Local Interest.

2.2.6 Welsh planning legislation and policy guidance outlines that the conservation of archaeological remains and their setting is a material consideration in the determination of a planning application (Planning Policy Wales 9, Chapter 6, Para. 6.5.5). In order to take into account archaeological considerations and deal with them from the beginning of the development control process, Local Planning Authorities in Wales need to be fully informed about the nature and importance of archaeological remains, and their setting, and the likely impact of any proposed development upon them.

2.2.7 Paragraphs 6.5.6 to 6.5.8 of PPW9 Chapter 6 set out the staged process of investigations which may be required to provide the relevant information to inform decisions. This means that Local Planning Authorities can request an applicant to provide further information on archaeological matters in the form of desk-based assessment, field evaluation, and detailed Written Schemes of Investigation to outline mitigation proposals as appropriate.

2.2.8 Paragraph 6.5.7 makes provision for archaeological work on a site to be carried out as part of a condition, as long as the work is carried out before development commences, and it is carried out to a project design agreed with the planning authority.

2.3 Local Development Framework

2.3.1 Wrexham County Borough Council is currently preparing a new Local Development Plan (LDP2) which will replace the current adopted Wrexham Unitary Development Plan (UDP). The LDP2 (Deposit Plan March 2018) is scheduled to be submitted to the National Assembly for Wales for Examination in November 2018 and until such time the current development plan policy framework is provided by the Wrexham Unitary Development Plan 1996-2011, adopted February 2005.

2.3.2 The Wrexham UDP 1996-2011 contains the following policies, which provide a framework for the consideration of development proposals affecting archaeological and heritage features:

POLICY EC9 [Listed buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest]

ALTERATIONS OR ADDITIONS TO, AND DEVELOPMENT OR REDEVELOPMENT WITHIN THE CURTILAGE OF, BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES LISTED AS OF SPECIAL ARCHITECTURAL OR HISTORIC INTEREST MUST RESPECT THE SETTING AND CHARACTER OF THE LISTED BUILDINGS OR STRUCTURES.

POLICY EC11 [Archaeology]

DEVELOPMENT WHICH WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE SITE OR SETTING OF A SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENT OR ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED. DEVELOPMENT THAT DIRECTLY AFFECTS NON-SCHEDULED SITES OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE WILL ONLY BE PERMITTED IF AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CARRIED OUT TO DETERMINE THE NATURE, EXTENT AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE REMAINS, AND THIS INVESTIGATION INDICATES THAT IN-SITU PRESERVATION IS NOT JUSTIFIED, AND A PROGRAMME OF EXCAVATION AND RECORDING HAS BEEN AGREED. DEVELOPMENT WILL ALSO BE CAREFULLY CONTROLLED TO ENSURE THAT THE SETTING OF NON-SCHEDULED SITES OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE IS NOT HARMED WHERE APPROPRIATE

2.3.3 The Wrexham LDP2 2013-28 (March 2018) contains the following relevant proposed

policy which, once adopted, will replace Policies EC9 and EC11 (above):

POLICY SP16: Historic and Cultural Environment

DEVELOPMENT WILL ONLY BE SUPPORTED WHERE IT CONSERVES, PROTECTS AND ENHANCES THE FOLLOWING CULTURAL AND HERITAGE ASSETS OF THE COUNTY BOROUGH AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE, THEIR SETTINGS:

i. LISTED BUILDINGS AND IN PARTICULAR THOSE ON THE BUILDINGS AT RISK REGISTER;

ii. CONSERVATION AREAS;

iii. PONTCYSYLLTE AQUEDUCT AND CANAL WORLD HERITAGE SITE;

iv. REGISTERED HISTORIC PARKS, GARDENS AND LANDSCAPES; AND

v. SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENTS AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL REMAINS.

2.4 Definitions and Guidance

2.4.1 The ‘Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance for the Sustainable Management of the Historic Environment in Wales’ published by Cadw in March 2011 provides the basic principles under which all subsequent guidance has evolved. The six principles expressed are:

• Historic assets will be managed to sustain their values.

• Understanding the significance of historic assets is vital.

• The historic environment is a shared resource.

• Everyone will be able to participate in sustaining the historic environment.

• Decisions about change must be reasonable, transparent and consistent.

• Documenting and learning from decisions is essential.

Definition of the historic environment

2.4.2 The historic environment is defined in TAN 24 (at para. 1.7) as:

Definition of Heritage assets

2.4.3 Heritage assets are defined by Cadw (March 2011) and TAN 24 (2017) as:

“An identifiable component of the historic environment. It may consist or be a combination of an archaeological site, an historic building or area, historic park and garden or a parcel of historic landscape. Nationally important historic assets will normally be designated.“

2.4.4 A Designated Heritage Asset is considered to be a: World Heritage Site, Scheduled Monument, Listed Building, Protected Wreck Site, Registered Park and Garden, Registered Battlefield or Conservation Area. In Wales areas of landscape have been designated and included in the non-statutory Register of Landscapes of Historic Interest in Wales.

Significance

2.4.5 Significance in relation to heritage policy considerations is defined as:

• The sum of the cultural heritage values (Cadw 2011).

2.4.6 The ‘Guide to Good Practice on Using the Register of Landscapes of Historic Interest in Wales in the Planning and Development Process, (Revised Edition 2007)’ (Cadw/CCW 2007) outlines Categories A – U which are used to place historic environment assets in order of relative importance.

Setting

2.4.7 Welsh policy makes it clear that setting must be considered in any assessment of the historic environment (PPW9 6.4.2, 6.5.1). The Welsh Government published ‘Setting of Historic Assets in Wales’ in 2017 and this provides guidance on what setting is, how it contributes to the significance of a historic asset and why it is important.

2.4.8 Setting of a historic asset is defined as ‘the surroundings in which it is understood, experienced, and appreciated embracing present and past relationships to the surrounding landscape. Its extent is not fixed and may change as the asset and its surroundings evolve. Elements of a setting may make a positive or negative

contribution to that significance or may be neutral. Setting is not a historic asset in its own right but has value derived from how different elements may contribute to the significance of a historic asset’ (WG 2017).

2.4.9 TAN 24 also makes the point that setting always forms part of the aesthetic value of a historic asset and can contribute to the other heritage values, and that setting is primarily a visual amenity. Consideration needs to be given to how the proposed development will appear in views out of and looking towards the historic asset, and in views where the proposed development and the historic asset are juxtaposed (WG 2015).

2.4.10 Setting of Historic Assets in Wales sets out a four-stage process for assessing the impact of proposed developments within the settings of historic assets as follows:

Stage 1: Identify the historic assets that might be affected by a proposed change or development.

Stage 2: Define and analyse the settings to understand how they contribute to the significance of the historic assets and, in particular, the ways in which the assets are understood, appreciated and experienced.

Stage 3: Evaluate the potential impact of a proposed change or development on that significance.

Stage 4: If necessary, consider options to mitigate or improve the potential impact of a proposed change or development on that significance.

2.4.11 The final decision about the acceptability of proposals will depend on the range of circumstances that apply to a heritage asset and the relative sensitivity to change. Decisions are therefore made on a case by case basis, recognising that all heritage assets are not of equal importance and the contribution made by their setting to their significance also varies.

2.3.4 General

2.3.5 Therefore, in considering the archaeological implications of the proposed development, the local planning authority will be guided by the policy framework set by government (PPW9) and Policies EC9 and EC11 of the Wrexham UDP (2011).

3.0 GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY AND SITE CONDITIONS

3.1 Geology

3.1.1 The underlying solid geology of the study site comprises mudstone, sandstone and conglomerate of the Salop Formation. This is overlain by Devensian Glaciofluvial sheet deposits (British Geological Survey 1993).

3.2 Site Conditions and Topography

3.2.1 The study site is located to the east of the town of Wrexham and to the south of the main A534 Holt Road (Plate 1). It comprises eight fields (Plates 2-5), the majority of which are arable, with the exception of a pasture field in the north-west corner (Plate 6) and an area of scrub alongside an access trackway on north-east side. Modern residential development bounds the west side of the study site, the south side is bound by Bryn Estyn Road (Plate 7) and Bryn Estyn Court (Plate 8), and the east is bound by agricultural fields and a concrete works.

3.2.2 The topography undulates over much of the study site, although it tends to flatten out along the south and south-east, and is at its highest at approximately 76m AOD. The fields are mainly bound by mature trees and hedgerows.

3.2.3 A small wooded area surrounds a depression relating to a marl pit (82623) recorded on the HER (Plates 9 and 10) within the west side of the study site. A line of trees marking the location of a former east/west aligned field boundary was also noted on the east side of the study site. However, no other earthworks of archaeological interest were observed within the study site boundary. No designated assets were visible from the study site.

4.0 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND, INCLUDING ASSESSMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE

4.1 Timescales used in this report are as follows.

Prehistoric Palaeolithic 450,000 BC - 10,001 BC Mesolithic 10,000 BC - 4,001 BC Neolithic 4,000 BC - 1,801 BC Bronze Age 1,800 BC - 601 BC Iron Age 600 BC - AD 42

Historic Roman AD 43 - 409 AD Early Medieval AD 410 - 1065 AD Medieval AD 1066 - 1485 AD Post-Medieval AD 1486 - 1799 AD Modern AD 1800 - Present

4.2 Introduction

4.2.1 This chapter reviews existing archaeological evidence for the site and the archaeological/historical background of the general area based on a consideration of evidence in the Wrexham Historic Environment Record (HER) and the Wrexham Record Office, as well as that provided by Cadw, the National Monuments Record of Wales, the Environment Agency LiDAR and various on-line sources for the study site and a surrounding 1km search area (the study area).

4.2.2 A gazetteer of designated heritage assets, archaeological monuments and archaeological investigations and events is provided at Appendix 2. This chapter also considers the potential for as yet undiscovered archaeological assets on the site, in accordance with the PPW9. Chapter 5 subsequently considers site conditions and whether any theoretical potential identified in this chapter is likely to survive.

4.2.3 It is not the purpose of this document to create a detailed archaeology or history of Wrexham, noting every sherd of pottery or lithic flake. Rather, it aims to provide an assessment of the study site’s archaeological potential based on archaeological evidence in the study area.

4.3 Designated Heritage Assets

4.3.1 Data obtained from Wrexham HER confirms that there are no designated heritage assets (Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments, Conservation Areas, Registered Battlefields or Parks and Gardens) on the study site (Appendices 1 and 2).

4.3.2 Within the surrounding 1km study area, designated assets are limited to five Grade II Listed Buildings. The nearest is Cherry Hill on Borras Park Road, Wrexham (32686, LB ref. 1747), located c. 700m to the north-east of the study site. The remaining four Listed Buildings, comprising Nos 93 and 95 Dean Road (32690, LB ref. 1751 and 42294, LB ref. 16471), Borras Farm (36746, LB ref. 1564) and Erlas Hall (66309, LB ref. 84802), are located between c. 950m-1km from the study site. All of the Listed Buildings are screened from the study site by intervening topography, vegetation and development. Therefore, they are not sensitive to development on the study site and so will be given no further consideration within this report.

4.3.3 There are no Scheduled Monuments within the 1km study area. The closest is the Garden Village Section of Wat’s Dyke located 2.65km to the west, on the west side of Wrexham town centre. The Scheduled Monument is screened from the study site by intervening topography, vegetation and development and is not considered sensitive to development on the site. Therefore it will be given no further consideration within this report.

4.3.4 There are no Conservation Areas within the 1km study area although there is a cluster within Wrexham Town Centre situated between c. 2.5km to 2.9km to the south-west of the study site. However, these are screened from the study site by intervening topography, vegetation and development and are considered not sensitive to development on the study site and so will be given no further consideration within this report.

4.3.5 There are no additional designated heritage assets within the search area. A gazetteer of the designated heritage assets is included at Appendix 2 and shown on plans in Appendix 1.

4.4 Non-Designated Heritage Assets and other archaeological monuments

4.4.1 There is one non-designated archaeological asset, a marl pit (82623), recorded within the study site. A WWII aircraft crash site (86023) is recorded on the north-west study site boundary, which is safeguarded under the Protection of Military Remains Act (1986).

4.4.2 There are a further 110 ‘Monuments’ within the 1km search area. A gazetteer of HER records is included at Appendix 1.

4.5 Previous Archaeological Investigations

4.5.1 There are 25 archaeological events recorded within the 1km study area, most of which are associated with the Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust’s (CPAT) scheduling enhancement projects concerning rabbit warrens (132421-2), Medieval and Post- Medieval Industry (123124 and 141996), 20th century military airfields (120905-7) and their hinterlands (123960-2). One event is recorded within the study site (51982) although this relates to an Historic Environment Report of Tyn Twll Farm located immediately to the west of the study site undertaken as part of the Tir Gofal agri- environment scheme run by the Welsh Assembly Government in 2005. The scheme was aimed at promoting whole farm conservation and management, helping to protect both the archaeological heritage and natural environment.

4.5.2 Eight of the archaeological events (33196, 58489, 58490, 85402, 85403, 85405, 106558 and 113069) within the 1km study area relate to investigations at Borras Quarry, approximately 500m to the north, including assessments, walkover surveys, watching briefs and excavations. This led to the discovery of mid or late Neolithic settlement activity, with a later phase during the Bronze Age.

4.5.3 A gazetteer of HER events is included at Appendix 1 and their locations are shown on plan in Appendix 2.

4.6 Prehistoric

4.6.1 There are no Prehistoric archaeological assets recorded within the study site.

4.6.2 Within the surrounding 1km study area there are no archaeological assets recorded on the HER. However, Neolithic and Bronze Age settlement activity is recorded c. 500m to the north as part of the Borras Quarry investigations (see para 4.5.2, above).

4.6.3 In the wider landscape evidence of Prehistoric activity was also recorded during a watching brief of the Borras Quarry extension, located c. 1.9km to the north of the study site. In close proximity to this, near to Borras Farm and located between c. 1.1- 1.2km to the north-west of the study site, Mesolithic flints were recorded (101653 and 101654) along with a Neolithic stone axe (101692). Just beyond the 1km study area to the west of the study site a Bronze Age hoard was recorded (100386) in 1875 comprising six bronze palstaves and one chisel.

4.6.4 Based on the above, there is evidence for Prehistoric activity in the surroundings of the study site, but this mainly comprises finds within the topsoil. Therefore, it is considered that there exists a low/nil potential for the presence of any significant Prehistoric remains within the study site.

4.7 Roman

4.7.1 There are no Roman archaeological assets recorded within the study site.

4.7.2 Within the surrounding 1km search area, evidence of Roman activity is limited to isolated finds of coins (54713 and 106386), spindle whorls (97014 and 97015) and a bow brooch (118460). The nearest known settlement to the study site during this period is a farmstead at Plas Coch on the west side of Wrexham, c. 3.2km from the site. A tile and pottery works is also known on the banks of the River Dee to the north of Holt, c. 5km to the north-east of the study site.

4.7.3 Apart from the potential discovery of an isolated find within the topsoil of the study site, it is considered that there is a low/nil potential for the discovery of any significant Roman remains.

4.8 Medieval

4.8.1 There are no recorded archaeological assets of Medieval date within the study site.

4.8.2 Within the 1km search area surrounding the study site there is evidence of Medieval activity comprising a buckle find (97017) and landscape features relating to: ridge and furrow at at Hugmore House (128243) c. 740m to the east and at Erlas Hall (82617) c. 900m to the south-east; and a possible Medieval Holloway (82627) c. 430m to the south.

4.8.3 Within the wider landscape, Borras Hall (113522) which is located 1.15km to the north-west of the study site is believed to be dated to c. 1300 from a seal of Madog (19377) found nearby.

4.8.4 During the Medieval period, the study site was located some distance outside of the historic core of Wrexham. The town is believed to be pre-Conquest in origin, although the first reference to a settlement is documented in 1161 as Wristlesha’, interpreted as a piece of enclosed land owned by Wryhtel.

4.8.5 Consequently, there is no evidence to suggest that the study site was occupied in this period, and the study site is considered to have been within the agricultural hinterland to the town of Wrexham. Therefore, the potential for significant non-agricultural archaeological remains of Medieval date to survive within the site is low/nil.

4.9 Post-Medieval and Modern

4.9.1 There is one archaeological asset of Post-Medieval date recorded in the HER within the study site comprising a marl pit (82623).

4.9.2 The HER also records a WWII aircraft crash site (86023) on the north-west perimeter of the study site, although no details are provided. Nevertheless, the crash site will be protected under the enforcement of the PMRA (1986). Most aircraft crash sites were

visited almost immediately or soon after by recovery teams, to remove salvage, human remains, ordnance and, in the case of enemy aircraft, to examine the wreckage for intelligence purposes. The amount of recoverable material was influenced by the size of the aircraft, its speed and angle at impact, the surface into which it impacted, and its location. Once the crash site had been cleared and made safe the crater would be back-filled before the recovery crew moved on to their next task. As a result of contemporary recovery, even where archaeological traces remain, excavation of lowland World War II crash sites may yield on average only approximately 1 per cent (in weight) of the aircraft (English Heritage 2002).

4.9.3 Also bounding the north-west side of the study site is Tyn Twll Farm (55135, Plate 12), and on the east side of the north perimeter of the study site are the locations of the Credington Arms building (55138) and well (55137), and Keeper’s Cottage (82622) and well (86005). Only Tyn Twll Farm (55135) is extant.

4.9.4 Along Bryn Estyn Road, which bounds the south perimeter of the study site, the HER records a boundary stone (104464), although it no longer exists. Bryn Estyn House and Garden (86007) and associated well (86006), which also date to at least the early 19th century, are located on the south side of Bryn Estyn Road and to the south-east of the study site, bounding and revetting the north side of Bryn Estyn Road, is a limestone wall (82626, Plate 7).

4.9.5 Within the surrounding 1km study area the HER data for the Post-Medieval or modern period is characterised by archaeological assets related to buildings, monuments or artefacts of a well-defined extent: there are 101 archaeological assets of Post- Medieval or modern date, a large proportion of which relates to RAF Wrexham (Borras Airfield) dating to World War II that was located on the north side of the A534, Holt Road.

4.9.6 In this period, understanding of settlement, land-use and the utilisation of the landscape is enhanced by cartographic and documentary sources which can give additional detail to data contained within the HER.

4.9.7 The earliest available detailed map of the study site is the 1838 Flint Tithe map (Figure 2). The study site comprises approximately 16 fields (numbers 56, 60, 95-103, 115-119) used as arable. Tyn Twll Farm (55135) can be seen to the north-west (Plot 105) and the Credington Arms (55138) can be seen to the north-east (Plot 61). The marl pit (82623) is also marked as a feature but is not labelled as such.

4.9.8 The Ordnance Survey map of 1879 (Figure 3) shows that generally there is no change to the study site since the Tithe map of 1838 (Figure 2), with the exception of a small number of field boundaries having been removed in the north-west area and south

side of the study site and a second pit or pond is shown to the south of the marl pit recorded on the HER (82623).

4.9.9 The 1900 Ordnance Survey map (Figure 4) again shows relatively little change to the study site, with only an additional field boundary added in the very north-west field. Keeper’s Cottage (82622), to the north of the site on Holt Road has been built.

4.9.10 There is no change to the study site seen on the Ordnance Survey map of 1914-5 (Figure 5), apart from the field boundary in the very north-west field has been removed. To the south, Bryn Estyn Court has been built together with Bryn Estyn House (86007) in its present form.

4.9.11 There are no changes to the study site until the Ordnance Survey map of 1968 (Figure 6) when the field boundaries that had previously divided plots 100-103 on the Tithe map of 1938 are re-established. In the centre of these fields, the marl pit (82623) contains a small pond and appears to have been fenced off. To the north of these fields a drain is shown, which is still extant and in the south-west area of the study site a field boundary has been removed. The Credington Arms (55138) has been demolished to the north-east and a quarry is shown bounding the east side of the study site. The World War II Borras Airfield for RAF Wrexham is shown north of the study site, although is marked as disused.

4.9.12 The study site remains unchanged until the 1990-2 Ordnance Survey map (Figure 7) when a number of field boundaries have been removed and that around the marl pit reconfigured. This arrangement remains through to the present day (Figure 1), with evidence of the former east/west field boundary on the east side of the study site marked by mature trees (Plate 11).

4.9.13 The study site remained as agricultural land throughout the Post-Medieval period until the present day, as demonstrated in the mapping evidence. Apart from the marl pit (82623), that was identified during the site visit within the study site (Plates 9 and 10), no other features of archaeological potential were noted. The marl pit has limited archaeological interest and therefore it is considered that there is low/nil potential for sub-surface remains surviving below ground, depending on the precise location and possible spread of the WWII aircraft crash site (86023).

4.10 Assessment of Significance

4.10.1 Understanding significance is a key principle for managing change to heritage assets, and is embedded within current government policy. Assessing significance requires a combination of comparative analysis, an understanding of the heritage asset’s development and the wider context.

4.10.2 Within the study site there is one non-designated asset of Post-Medieval and Modern date recorded in the HER comprising a marl pit. Its significance is of low or local archaeological interest, which would be derived from its relatively limited evidential value and historical value associated with the development and use of a Post-Medieval agricultural landscape.

4.10.3 At the north-west side of the study site a WWII aircraft crash site is recorded which is considered to be of local/regional importance. There is no detail recorded on the HER regarding the aircraft or the circumstances surrounding the crash, but it is considered that there is a moderate potential for smaller parts of the aircraft not recovered immediately following the crash on the boundary and possibly within the study site, which provide evidential, along with historical, value to its significance.

4.10.4 This assessment has considered the potential for as yet to be discovered archaeological assets within the site and there is considered to be a low/nil potential for evidence for all archaeological periods. Any hitherto unknown archaeological remains present within the site would be significant for their evidential value and their potential to contribute to local and regional research agendas.

5.0 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT & IMPACT ON HERITAGE ASSETS

5.1 The Proposed Development

5.1.1 The study site is being proposed for residential development.

5.2 Impact on Heritage Assets

5.2.1 There are no designated assets on the study site.

5.2.2 The assessment has established that there will be no impact on any designated assets or their settings within the surroundings of the study site as they are screened from the development by intervening buildings, topography or vegetation.

5.2.3 The assessment has also considered the potential for as yet to be discovered archaeological evidence within the study site and, based on the available evidence, it has concluded that there is a low/negligible potential for sub-surface remains of all archaeological periods.

5.2.4 There is a marl pit recorded on the HER (82623) within the study site (Appendix 2) that is included for retention within the Illustrative Concept Layout (Randall Thorp drawing ref 661B-04 A) and will, therefore, not be impacted by the proposed development.

5.2.5 It is possible that there is some evidence surviving below-ground associated with the military aircraft crash site (86023) on the north-west perimeter of the study site. Further investigation may be required to confirm or refute the precise nature of the aircraft and details of the crash, including enquiries with the RAF and a geophysical survey to identify any potential wreckage remains. If the site is confirmed to straddle the boundary of the study site a license for removal would need to be obtained from the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC) under the PMRA (1986) and it would also need to then be archaeologically excavated and recorded. However, if human remains are suspected then the site would be classed as a War Grave and an exclusion zone would need to be included in the design of the proposed development. Although this area is not proposed for development within the Illustrative Concept Layout (Randall Thorp drawing ref 661B-04 A) it is possible that other associated ancillary earth moving works may impact on the archaeological asset. Therefore, a programme of archaeological work, initially employing a geophysical survey, is required to investigate the extent, nature and significance of any associated surviving sub-surface remains.

6.0 CONCLUSIONS

6.1 This Heritage Assessment draws together the available archaeological, historic, topographic and land-use information in order to clarify the significance of heritage assets on and near the study site and the archaeological potential of land at Holt Road, Wrexham. The Illustrative Concept Layout (Randall Thorp drawing ref 661B-04 A) for the proposed development has been used in the assessment of impact.

6.2 The assessment has established that there are no designated archaeological assets on the study site. Within the surrounding 1km study area there are five Grade II Listed Buildings, all of which are screened from the study site by intervening topography, vegetation and buildings. Consequently, there will be no impact on the designated assets or their settings and significance within the surroundings of the study site.

6.3 The assessment has also established that there is one non-designated archaeological asset recorded in the HER within the study site boundary and one located on the north-west boundary, both dating to the Post-Medieval and Modern periods and considered to be of local/regional interest. These include a marl pit on the west side of the study site, which will be retained within the proposed development, and a military aircraft crash site that may straddle the boundary of the study site. The crash site, under the Protection of Military Remains Act (PMRA) of 1986, cannot be excavated or remains removed without a license from the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC). However, if human remains are suspected then it would be classed as a War Grave and an exclusion zone would be required in any proposed development. The archaeological asset is outwith the proposed development layout but associated ancillary earth moving works may impact on any surviving sub-surface remains.

6.4 This assessment has also considered the potential for as-yet to be discovered archaeological assets within the site. It concludes that, on the basis of the archaeological evidence from the search area, the site has a low/negligible potential for significant remains of all periods.

6.5 The assessment has shown that there are no heritage or archaeological constraints to the deliverability of the study site.

6.6 In light of the above, it is recommended that an initial geophysical survey is undertaken to confirm the presence/absence of remains associated with the crash site and any other potential features of archaeological interest. This would inform the need for a scope of further archaeological work; this programme of iterative work can be secured by an appropriately worded planning condition.

SOURCES CONSULTED

General Wrexham Record Office Wrexham Historic Environment Record (HER) National Monuments Record of Wales

Bibliographic British Geological Survey, 1993, Geology, 1:50,000 Maps, Sheet 121, Wrexham. CPAT, 2004. Wrexham Industrial Estate Access Roads. Stage II archaeological study. CPAT, 2008. Borras Quarry Extension, Wrexham. Archaeological watching brief. CPAT, 2009a. Excavations at Borras Quarry, Wrexham, 2008. Draft interim report. CPAT, 2009b. Excavations at Borras Quarry, Wrexham, 2009. Interim report. CPAT HLC: the Historic Landscape Characterisation work of the Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust. This is published on-line and which is an ongoing project which commenced in 1999. English Heritage, 2002. Military Aircraft Crash Sites. Archaeological guidance on their significance and future management.

Cartographic 1611 Speed’s County Map of Wales 1740 William’s New Map of the Counties of Denbigh and Flint 1838 Wrexham Tithe Map

Ordnance Survey 1:10,560/1:10,000 1879, 1881, 1899-1900, 1900, 1914-15, 1938-54, 1954, 1964, 1968, 1974, 1981-3, 1988, 1990-2, 1992, 2000, 2006, 2017

Ordnance Survey 1:2,500 1881, 1899, 1911, 1959, 1960-2, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1992

Website Archaeological Data Service - ads.ahds.ac.uk British Geological Survey – bgs.ac.uk Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust – cpat.org.uk Historic Wales – historicwales.gov.uk National Library of Wales - journals.library.wales and places.library.wales National Monuments Record of Wales (NMRW) database - coflein.gov.uk

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